After lawmakers held a second special session earlier this year to remedy a more than $1 billion budget shortfall and balance the state’s budget resulting from the effects of a COVID-19 economic downturn, Governor Kate Brown provided notice Monday that she will veto several line-item appropriations in order to preserve funding for the state’s ongoing emergency wildfire response efforts and maintain a balanced budget.
“Our state faces several unprecedented challenges simultaneously: the COVID-19 pandemic, structural racism resulting in persistent disparities for Black, Indigenous, People of Color and Tribal communities in our state, widespread unemployment, a significant budget shortfall, and now the worst wildfire season in our lifetimes,” said Governor Brown. “The wildfires are a significant change since you adjourned the Second Special Session.”
Combined, the vetoes will preserve over $65 million, improving the state’s ending balance to total $164.3 million in general funds and $16.7 million in lottery funds. In order to expedite an immediate relief package by the Legislature’s Emergency Board, the Governor also requested that legislators reserve at least $150 million in the state’s emergency fund for upcoming requests relating to the fires.
Although Governor Brown’s line item vetoes appear to be ‘wildfire related’ and intended to reinstate funding cuts to several state agencies including the Department of Forestry, Military Department, Oregon State Police passed in Senate Bill 5723 during the Democratic majority special session, they also include reinstating funding cuts to the Department of Environmental Quality for climate change reductions.
Governor Brown also intends to line item veto cuts passed in House Bill 4304 during the Democratic majority special session that Repeal the PERS unfunded liability reduction program and fund dedications, funds for Special Purpose Appropriation for Department of Homeland Security and the Oregon Health Authority to address Coronavirus as well as other funding.
